New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpredmi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fidimpredmi’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large red-colored flowers with a white-colored star-shaped pattern; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIDIMPREDMI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidimpredmi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching New Guinea Impatiens plants with freely flowering habit and large attractive and uniquely colored flowers.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made in 2006 by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands of two unnamed proprietary selections of Impatiens hawkeri, not patented. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens plant have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fidimpredmi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fidimpredmi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant         form.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large red-colored flowers with a white-colored star-shaped         pattern.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as compact as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent         selection differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the         female parent selection are pale red in color and do not have a         star-shaped pattern.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent         selection differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the         male parent selection are red in color and do not have a         star-shaped pattern.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Tamar Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Tamar Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Tamar Red’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Tamar Red’         differed in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘Tamar Red’         were red in color and did not have a star-shaped pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fidimpredmi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands under commercial practice with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimpredmi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Impatiens hawkeri, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Impatiens hawkeri, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading             growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit             with about six lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 183A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of about five; simple.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy in luster.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N146A to             N146B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N183B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to N147B; venation, close to 183A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Center, close to 182C; towards the             edges, close to 183A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary             flowers; freely flowering habit with about five flowers             developing per lateral branch; flowers positioned above the             foliage and typically face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, continuous flowering from spring             through the summer in The Netherlands; early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about ten weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant             under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium             persistent.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth: About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: Close to 185A and N34A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.5 cm. Length, lateral             and lower petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, banner petal: About             4.5 cm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 2.5 cm.             Shape, banner petal: Cordate. Shape, lateral and lower             petals: Broadly cordate. Apex, banner petal: Mucronate.             Apex, lateral and lower petals: Emarginate. Base, all             petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture, all             petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             banner petal: When opening, upper surface: Close to 45A;             central longitudinal stripe towards the apex, close to N155B             and towards the base, close to 38A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 187A; central longitudinal stripe, close             to 45A and 43A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45A;             towards the apex, close to 46A; central longitudinal stripe,             close to NN155D; with development, longitudinal stripes             become closer to NN155A and subsequently, close to 161D             surrounded with close to N200A and 186A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 187A; central longitudinal stripe, close             to 46A, 45A and 43A. Color, lateral petals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 45A; central longitudinal stripe             towards the apex, close to N155B and towards the base, close             to 38A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 43B; central             longitudinal stripe, close to 38B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 45A; central longitudinal stripe, close to             NN155D or a mixture of NN155D and 38B; with development,             longitudinal stripes become closer to NN155A and             subsequently, close to 161D surrounded with close to N200A             and 186A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 43B; center,             close to 43D; central longitudinal stripe, close to NN155D             or a mixture of NN155D and 38B. Color, lower petals: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 45A; central longitudinal             stripe towards the apex, close to N155B and towards the             base, close to 38A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             43A; central longitudinal stripe, close to 38B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 45A; central longitudinal             stripe, close to NN155D or a mixture of NN155D and 38B; with             development, longitudinal stripes become closer to NN155A             and subsequently, close to 161D surrounded with close to             N200A and 186A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 43B to             43C; central longitudinal stripe, close to NN155D or a             mixture of NN155D and 38B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an             elongated spur. Length, spurred sepal: About 1.6 cm. Length,             spur: About 3.5 cm. Length, lateral sepals: About 1.2 cm.             Width, spurred sepal: About 1.5 cm. Diameter, spur: About             2 mm. Width, lateral sepals: About 6 mm. Shape, spurred             sepal: Broadly ovate with elongated spur. Shape, lateral             sepals: Ovate. Apex, all sepals: Apiculate. Base, all             sepals: Cuneate. Margin, all sepals: Entire. Texture, all             sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             spurred sepal: Upper surface: Towards the base, close to             56D; towards the margins, close to 43D; towards the apex,             close to 139D. Lower surface: Close to 43A and 43C; towards             the apex, close to 139D. Spur, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 185B. Color, lateral sepals: Upper surface: Close             to 43C; towards the margins, close to 139D. Lower surface:             Center, close to 43C; towards the margins, close to 59C;             towards the apex, close to 139D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 195A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 43B to 43C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to N155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 0.4 mm. Stigma shape: Capitate. Stigma             color: Close to 158C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpredmi’ as illustrated and described. 